Instead of looking for ways to follow God closer, many, even many who call themselves Christians, look for loop-holes.

They quote scriptures that affirm their feelings and ignore the ones that don’t.

In all actuality, they are their own gods who foolishly trust their hearts—hearts that the Bible tells us are deceitful above all things. (Jer 17:9)

Jesus talks about hearts when he refers to Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa 29:13) and says-

“These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matt 15:8-9)

Hearts that are far from God give lip service to Christianity and teach as doctrine the commandments of men.

These “commandments of men” have a semblance of truth but are twisted.

In the past, they were often pridefully twisted toward legalism; but today, they are twisted toward debauchery.

And we recently read in Matthew the most favorite verse to be twisted by those looking to excuse their own sin, “ “Judge not, that you be not judged. ” (Matt 7:1)

Many play it like a trump card to silence others from calling out sin.

However, Hebrews says we are to distinguish good from evil —“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If we want to grow in spiritual maturity, we are supposed to constantly practice discerning good from evil.

Wouldn’t that require us to call some things “good” and some things “bad” and doesn’t the world we live in call that practice “judging”?

I’m concerned the enemy has especially confused this phrase, and used it to silence many from discerning truth and speaking truth to each other about sin, because the evil one knows the truth will set us free.

I’m thankful for people in my life who recognized my sin for what it was, and loved me enough to call it what it was, and talk to me about it.

Those dear friends want nothing to stand in the way of my relationship with God.

I guess they could have been worried that I would tell them, “Stop judging me,” but I’m so thankful they knew the difference between judging to condemn (which a Christian is not to do) and a discerning judgment of fruit (which a Christian is to do).

The father of all lies, Satan, is skilled in taking the very words of God out of context. This is why it is so important for Christians to know God’s Word and to read it in context and with the rest of the Bible.

Yes, God does say in Matthew 7, “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Yet, God goes on to say in the very same chapter that we can “know them by their fruits” and that “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (vv. 16–17).

Oh friend, let’s be iron that sharpens iron for each other. Let’s call out the good in each other but let’s also talk to each other about sin that so easy entangles.

If we truly love others, we have to, in love, help them know what God says about how we are to live and be vulnerable enough to let others help us.

Because the truth…it sets us FREE!

readMatthew

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